2012 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2012. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

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How do you know that someone has diabetes, could symptoms be a coincidence?
     Pam Schwartzberg, M.D., Ph.D.: I am Senior Investigator in NHGRI's Genetic Disease Research Branch. I study mouse models of primary immunodeficiencies (genetic diseases that impair the ability of the immune system to fight infections) and how specific disorders affect responses to infectious diseases. There are medical tests for diabetes, testing blood sugar, as well as glycosylated hemoglobin, which will better reflects whether your blood sugar has been elevated over time. These are not genetic tests, but tests of blood metabolites and proteins and can be ordered by your physician. Diabetes is influenced by many genetic and environmental influences.
Tredyffrin Easttown Middle School in PA (6th grade student)

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